Home remedies for simple ailments

We may have forgotten that drug companies use many ingredients that we ma also have in our kitchen, in our gardens, the leaves and fruits from the nearby forest and most especially, the roots from ordinary and/or rare plants.

So when we have a headache, we don\’t have to run to the nearest doctor or drugstore, but to our kitchen or drawer.

Malunggay leaves for low hemoglobin

The extract of malunggay or moringa leaves improves one\’s red blood cells. By extracting the natural juices of the leaves and taking two teaspoons of it twice a day for a week or two, there will be no need for a blood transfusion. The leaves\’ residue is best as an antiseptic on skin rashes and bruises. If applied, in two days the wound will dry up and scars will be lesser compared to those who did not undergo such process.

Garlic for high blood pressure

In an emergency, a garlic bulb under the tongue will save one\’s life. The garlic will help the victim make the trip from home to hospital. It will make a difference between a fatal attack and survival. For ordinary high blood pressure, have garlic with every meal. It will help lower the blood pressure.

Onion for cough and cold

Boil two medium-size onions for three minutes and drink it lukewarm to help cough and cold heal faster. If some heal after several weeks and months, this remedy is a sure hit among users and those who have tried it.

Guava leaves and yogurt for bad breath

There are two reasons for bad breath: first is tooth and gum disorder and the other is intestinal or stomach problem. For mouth problems, boil guava leaves for 10 minutes and gargle it for five minutes twice a day to kill germs and bacteria in the mouth. Do this until all the bacteria causing foul odor is gone.

Yogurt, on the other hand, neutralizes acid that emits foul odor that goes up to the esophagus and throat, which causes bad breath especially when a person hasn\’t had a meal for a long time.

Salt for sore throat

Mothers do know best. Mother always let us gargle warm water with salt in it when we have sore throat. Actually, the salt draws out excess fluid in the throat to reduce swelling and pain. But remember, this offers just temporary relief and is not a medication. Find the reason for the inflammation and treat it properly. The salt gargle is a temporary procedure one may do every morning when one has an inflamed throat.

Biting a pencil to cure headache

When we are stressed, we clench or grind our teeth whether we are awake or asleep. It is a natural body or facial response to stress-related issues consciously or unconsciously. Thus, we strain our muscle that connects the jaw to the temples, triggering tension headache.

By placing a pencil between our lower and upper teeth, we relax our jaw muscle, which eradicates tension and reduce the pain. But always remember that this procedure is only for tension-related pain and not applicable to other cases.

Duct tape to remove warts

Wear duct tape on a daily basis on affected area and use pumice stone every day for a week to help exfoliate warts or dead skin. This process is so effective without going to a dermatology clinic. It saves money and time. Just cover the affected area and the suffocation of the skin or the warts makes the immune system stimulate on the taped area and eventually attack the virus.

Sugar for food poisoning

Sugar and water are the immediate remedy for food poisoning, whether it is from any spoiled food or chemical. Always remember that nowadays there are several drinks that pretend to be wine and alcoholic beverage, but some are chemically formulated and flavored as wine to have an intoxicating effect, but to some, the effect is more than intoxication — too much of it leads to chemical poisoning. A spoonful of sugar followed by a glass of water will help a poison victim. Then, rush the victim to the nearest hospital for proper medical attention.

These home remedy suggestions are for mild or regular cases. Professional help in a hospital is still needed to help the patient overcome the problem. If a trip to a hospital is not immediately possible, then it\’s better to have these solutions than nothing at all. –Anthony Vivero, Daily Tribune

Comments and suggestions can be forwarded to anthonyvivero@yahoo.com and anthonyvivero@hotmail.com.